Hamilton+Pop

Richard Hamilton’s Perspective on Pop Art

• Source: Richard Hamilton, "For the Finest Art, Try Pop," Gazette, no. 1 (1961): 42-3.

The Impact of Photography on Fine Art

• Invention of photography constrained Fine Art’s role in the pictorial recording of visual facts.

• Shift in the relevance of Fine Art; popular culture began to take on roles traditionally held by Fine Art, particularly mythmaking.

• Art's function of decoration has gained inflated importance due to this shift.

Reaction to Popular Culture's Influence

• Artists express awe at how mass entertainment projects classic artistic themes.

• The portrayal of these themes is imbued with a cultural significance, acting as a 'date-stamp' for the era.

• Example: Playboy’s pin-up as a contemporary version of the odalisque.

• Automobile design now symbolizes the space age, illustrating a connection between contemporary design and artistic expression.

• Social commentary has shifted to television and comic strips, leaving traditional art forms less central to societal dialogue.

• Epic narratives are associated with films, embedding heroic archetypes within cinematic storytelling rather than visual arts.

The Historical Context of Art Movements

• Two key art movements: Dada and Futurism, represented society in transformation.

  • Dada: Negative proposition against current social attitudes, emphasizing radicalism and rebellion.

  • Futurism: Positive engagement with societal changes, characterized by assertive and authoritarian elements.

• Both movements were strongly propagandist, promoting new ideas against established norms.

Evolution of Contemporary Artists

• A new generation of Dadaists, labeled as "Son of Dada," has emerged, recognized and celebrated within the art world.

• The focus of mythmaking has shifted from artwork to the artist, suggesting a transformation in the authenticity of art.

• Futurism's ideological impact has diminished, lacking a direct successor.

The Philosophy of Art and Social Commentary

• Hamilton argues for the possibility of an affirmative approach within art, contrasting the historic attacks against societal norms.

• Emphasizes the continuity of avant-garde movements and their reactions against stale cultural and aesthetic values, often rooted in nostalgia.

• Pop-Fine-Art: A synthesis of popular culture represented in Fine Art, signifying a belief in society's shifting values.

  • Represents a form of respect for mass culture.

  • Positioning itself as an "antiartistic" yet constructive movement, contrasting Dada’s destructiveness.

  • Suggests that contemporary artists must recognize their role as consumers of mass culture, potentially leading to further contributions within that sphere.